Marshall Tarpley enlisted in the U.S. Navy in July 1942 and completed
four weeks of boot camp in Norfolk, Virginia. He then attended Electrician
Mate Class "A" School for four months in Detroit, MI and the went on to
Naval Submarine School in Groton, CT in January 1943. After completion
of Submarine School, Marshall was sent to Manitowoc, WI to commission the
USS RATON (SS 270). He completed three war patrols on RATON and then
reported to Vallejo, CA to commission the USS SPOT (SS 413) and also completed
three war patrols before putting the SPOT out of commission at the end
of the war. He then spent 2 1/2 years on the USS SEGUNDO (SS 398)
and followed on with tours aboard the USS RONQUIL (SS 396) and USS BAYA
(SS 318). Later he went on the commissioning crew of USS SCABBARDFISH
(SS 397) homeported in Honolulu, HI. His next tour was on shore duty
on the East Coast. Upon completion of shore duty he was assigned
to an aircraft carrier "bird farm." To get off the bird farm, he
requested assignment to Class "B" School in Great Lakes, IL and made Chief
in "B" School in 1955. While he was at "B" School he pulled some
strings to get back to the submarine force and ended up being assigned
to the USS SARDA (SS 488)in New London, CT. After his tour on SARDA
he completed a two year tour as Chief Master at Arms on COMSUBLANT Admin
Staff in Charleston, SC. In 1959 he reported to USS CLAMAGORE (SS
343) as Chief of the Boat. In 1962 he was transferred to Bainbridge,
MD for Recruiting School and then on to Albany, GA to be in charge of the
Albany Recruiting Station. This 3 year tour lasted for 4 years.
At the end of his recruiting tour Marshall's nerves were shakey
and he did not want to go back on the boats. He requested and got
assigned to another "bird farm" USS Franklin D. Roosevelt at Mayport, FL.
Upon reporting to the Roosevelt, a chief came up to him and saw his dolphins
and said "you'd better take those off." He said: "These airdales
will drive you crazy about being a bubblehead." He told him he could
get along with them, and had a great time and enjoyed that tour of duty.
Marshall retired to Albany, GA in December 1968 after completing 26 years
of active duty.
Marshall then took a course in Marketing at the Vocational Technical
School in Albany, GA and then went to work at the Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth
Dealership in Albany for the next five years. In 1975, he retired
from his second career and started to enjoy life by spending a lot of time
in his RV, boat and fishing in Econfina River a mile from the Gulf in Florida!
Marshall married his lovely wife, Myrtle in 1952 in Charleston,
SC. Myrtle also retired from A T & T in 1987. They had
three children, Marshall, Beverly and Gary.
Marshall is a member of both SUBVETS WW II and SUBVETS, Inc. and
is an active member of the Kings Bay Trident Chapter. His keen sense
of humor and superb sea stories are always a welcome addition at our chapter
meetings and social events.